As if now charging $7.00 for generic prescription from Express Scripts mail delivery wasn't bad enough, TriCare will end dental coverage for retirees on 31 Dec 2018.

From VFW Action Corps Weekly newsgram:

TRICARE Retiree Dental Plan Ending: The TRICARE Retiree Dental Plan (TRDP) will sunset on Dec. 31, 2018. The program will not be replaced by a TRICARE alternative. However, retirees currently using or eligible for TRDP will have the option to secure dental coverage through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Eligible retirees and active-duty family members will also be eligible to obtain vision care through FEDVIP. In order to have dental or vision coverage in 2019, interested individuals must enroll during the open season — Nov. 12-Dec. 10, 2018. There are 10 dental and four vision carriers from which to choose.

No info yet on the cost or if you will also need the Vision insurance. Tricare for Life currently covers vision.

Do I remember correctly that when we were on active duty, we were told "free medical care when you retire?''. I also remember being informed that what the government gives, the government can take away.

As if now charging $7.00 for generic prescription from Express Scripts mail delivery wasn't bad enough, TriCare will end dental coverage for retirees on 31 Dec 2018.

From VFW Action Corps Weekly newsgram:

Do I remember correctly that when we were on active duty, we were told "free medical care when you retire?''. I also remember being informed that what the government gives, the government can take away.

I enlisted in 1960 and do recall being told free medical and dental after twenty.

What you are failing to mention is at that time there was no mention of COLA or other forms of pay increases.

Additionally , I've never seen a Military Dental caregiver since retiring 34 years ago... however my retirement check is larger than any Active Duty paycheck that I ever got, and I'll not be refunding that as overage!

I joined a little later than you, 1963. I then retired in 1984 with 21 years.

Like you, I haven't seen a military doctor since retirement.

Judy and I used to get our prescriptions filled at Ft Knox. After my 3rd heart attack and some other medical issues, there are a several maintenance prescriptions. I never was able to get them to refill or renew on the same date. Takes half a day to go to Ft Knox and back. So gave that up and started on the mail order routine.

Your mention of COLA interested me. COLA was started for Social Security in 1975. I don't know when military and naval pay became tied to COLA. If I remember correctly, we had to wait on the kindness of Congress for any pay/allowance changes until then. If my information is correct, $1.00 in 1984 is now worth $2.43 in 2018. That means that even with the COLA increases, I am now down $143.00 per month. Or $59.00 in 1984 dollars. Throw in the mandatory Medicare premiums, and now I'm underwater. It is my understanding that Medicare premiums are required if you want Tricare for Life.

I still remember all of the Westpacs I made, though they are beginning to fade. Luckily there are a lot of friends that I made that I can call or visit. Between us, we usually can get our sea stories straightened out.

Your mention of COLA interested me. COLA was started for Social Security in 1975. I don't know when military and naval pay became tied to COLA. If I remember correctly, we had to wait on the kindness of Congress for any pay/allowance changes until then. If my information is correct, $1.00 in 1984 is now worth $2.43 in 2018. That means that even with the COLA increases, I am now down $143.00 per month. Or $59.00 in 1984 dollars. Throw in the mandatory Medicare premiums, and now I'm underwater. It is my understanding that Medicare premiums are required if you want Tricare for Life.

Military Pay increases started in 1964, the year after you entered. When you enlisted, like me you had no expectation of COLA or similar increases. That year an E-8 was making $425 and an O-5 was making $855 per month after 20 years. That would have been the pension "promised" to us with the Medical and Dental care.

In 1984 the O-5 would have been making $3282 and the E-8 $1748

Here in 2018 that O-5 pension is $3745. Again, when you and I enlisted we were "promised" a O-5 Pension of 50% of $855 or $425 and an E-8 pension of $222.

I do not post to bemoan that instead of paying $425 a month, they are paying me $3745.

That E-8 pension that was "promised" in 1963 should now be

BTW. Military COLA came to be as a rider to a Postal Worker's Pay raise. It is not equal to the SSA COLA.

I have relinquished my rights to care under TCL in favor of Johns Hopkins The Uniformed Services Family Health Care (USFHP). Yes, Medicare is deducted from my SS Pension for both my wife and I - yet I am not entitled to Medicare treatment. My CO-Pay for Generics just went from 0 to $7 this month - first increase since 2008. No complaint.

I have mild diabetes and thus my vision care is covered completely - I have to get my glasses out in town.

While I don't get all the things I was promised in 1960, I get a lot of things that were not even dreamed about at that time. I have no gripes whatsoever.

" If I remember correctly, we had to wait on the kindness of Congress for any pay/allowance changes until then."

Actually there were virtually no military raises from the end of WWII until 1964. I just looked at O-1 Pay and it was the same in 1952 as in 1963. My Ration Allowance was $47.88 in 1963 - identical to during the war. Again, in 1963 neither you nor I had any reasonable expectation for pay raises. Yet we got them and that has put lots and lots of extra money in our pockets.

This question needs to be asked: WHO promised lifetime free medical care post retirement? Was it in our contract? Was it Congress? Or was it other sailors who had no authority to make such claims?I am sorry if those questions irritate people; but they need to be asked to raise awareness.

While I enjoy the discussion on COLA and retired benefits, I ask that you understand that the purpose of my original post was to inform military and naval retirees of a change in their benefits so that they would have time to seek alternate support.

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